Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Columbus, issued an RFI in its search for an active international small-cap equity manager. Neil Toth, director of investments, estimated the portfolio would be between $100 million and $200 million. Funding will come from cash. Proposals are due Aug. 24.
The $55 billion system also is reviewing proposals in its search for a manager to handle active domestic large-cap core equity and another to handle active domestic small-cap core equity portfolios, which will be benchmarked to the Russell 1000 and Russell 2000 indexes. The amounts have not been determined, he said. Funding will come from reducing the plans $23 billion in internally managed domestic equities. The system is not accepting further proposals for these portfolios.
System officials expect all three searches to be completed in the fall. Ennis Knupp is assisting.
Separately, system officials will evaluate its REIT benchmark. Mr. Toth said the fund uses the Standard & Poors REIT index, but it is seeking a benchmark that "better represents the opportunities in publicly traded real estate.